Bible Studies

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Essential to any study in Christian responsibility to the Body of Christ is the concept of Biblical Stewardship.

Before we actually explore the concept of Biblical Fellowship it is imperative that we first understand what the Bible has to say about stewartship and our role as believers in this responsibility.

The word Steward means manager.

It describes in Biblical terms the role that God has assigned to everyone who is a believer with reference to time, talents and Finance.

In other words, God has given to each person in His Kingdom, abilities, or talents that He expects them to manage or use in service or worship to Him.
We are to dedicate ourselves and our possessions to God as an act of worship.

The word dedicate means to set something apart for a special purpose.

The Bible states that God is the owner of everything; Exodus 19:5, He is the true owner of everything because He created all things and nothing has been given to Him. (1 Chronicles 29:14; Acts 17:25)

In comparison, people do not have anything that they havn't already received,
(1 Corinthians 4:7, 1 Timothy 6:7).
But all humanity, animals and everything else that there is in the World belong to God,
(Psalm 24:1, 50:10,12, Haggai 2:8).

Everything in Heaven and Earth is His (1Chronicles 29:11).

If we believe that God is the owner of everything, then there is nothing more practical by recognising it by giving Him what is His!

Jesus Himself is our example in considering Christian Stewardship.

Jesus being Lord deserved to be served, but He said that He "Did not come to be served" but "to serve."
(Mark 10:45)

God introduced Jesus as "My servant" (Isiah 42:1) because He took the nature of a servant. (Philippians 2:7).

The steward was a servant and as such he had to do what his master told him to do. His role or duty was to serve, and Jesus as a good servant never did His own will but that of His master and ours. (Luke 22:42)

At the end of His ministry Jesus could say with both satisfaction and confidence,

"I have finished the work You gave me to do." (John 17:4)

What a steward!

It is also important to note that, a steward was someone who had the owner's trust and confidence and because of that he was expected to be faithful.

In other words, a steward is one who carries out the will of the owner and carries out all his responsibilities of His master.

By comparison, the steward who only thinks of his own welfare and disregards or abuses the property or wishes of his master is considered unworthy.
(Luke 16:1)

You might be asking yourself, but where can I go to go to find out what God's instructions are?
The Bible of course is our handbook and has much to say regarding this subject.

For example, do you want to know how to use your mind? Look at (Philippians 4:8); and what about your time? Read Ephesians 5:16. And what about the Gospel? Consider what Mark 16:15 says.

God is especially concerned that we invest what He has given us for the welfare of others. Proverbs 3:27-28; 1 Peter 4:10.
The Bible teaches that everyone has received at least one talent for which they are responsible to invest for the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 25:15)

God has designed His Church (Those who are truly born-again) to consider the needs of our neighbour in the following order:

1) Our family (1Tim 5:8)
2) The Believers or the family of faith (Galatians 6:10)
3) Other people: the poor (Lev 19:10), the orphans and the widows (James 1:27), and anyone who has a need (Matthew 25:34-40).

With regard to this series on the Church With No Walls, obviously I want to concentrate primarialy upon our Spiritual stewardship and responsibility to the Body of Christ with emphasis on fellowship in particular.
Notwithstanding, we as believers will one day have to give account to God for the ways we have used our time, talents and finance in His Kingdom.

We will have to tell Him what we have done with what He has entrusted to us
(1 Corinthians 3:13-15).
Paul the apostle felt the weight of this great responsibility when he exclaimed: "How terrible it would be for me if I did not preach the Gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16)

How are we doing? May our master and Lord in Heaven not come upon us by surprise and find us wasting our lives.
(Luke 16:1-2)

On the contrary, let us carry out our responsibilities in such a way as to be worthy of those wonderful words, "Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share My happiness."
(Matthew 25:21)

A Question of Time

How often have you observed like me, men at the mid-life stage out in their running shoes and track suits?
You see them on country roads, in the park or out in the suburbs, running, jogging or fast walking.
What are they out to achieve?
Among other things a primary objective is to become fit and somehow try to stunt the ageing process thereby hoping to add to the quality of their lives and even add to their age expectancy.

They have probably come to that time in their lives when they realize that time is of the essence and if by any means possible it should be extended for them because they are on countdown!

Time is an extremely strange thing.
It is like a road, but with certain differences. Because while we can go backward and forward on a road,we can only go forward in time.

We are always moving forward toward the future; we never return to the past.
We may go back to the town or village where we lived as children, but we can't go back to being children.
We may stop for a while on a road; but we can't stop in time.
The truth is that we cannot remain a young person, we must go on advancing toward old age, death and finally eternity.

Our Lifetime

The truth is, that in spite of men's efforts to add time to their lives, it is God who determines how much time we have to live our earthly lives.
(2 Kings 20:1-6)

Every human being is responsible to God for the way he has used his lifetime.
A life of years of service to the Lord is not the same as a few hours given to Him before one's death.

There is no comparison between Paul (" Timothy 4:6-8) and the criminal who repented (Luke 23:41-43).
Both of them were saved; but the first gave God the best years of his lifetime and the last, the leftovers.

God always deserves the first and the best.

Time For God

This is our principal responsibility and our first priority.
God has established that a seventh of our time should be dedicated especially to Him (Exodus 20:9-10). There is also the time that we need to set aside for private devotions, this was the example of Jesus in Mark 1:35.

Time For Others

If we are married, we need to set aside time to talk with our wife or husband about the interests we share.

We need to set aside time for our children. They have their own needs and problems. This is time that we can counsel them and let them know that we are interested in them.

Time For Our Brothers & Sisters In Christ.

This area will be the focus of the next few chapters, so I just want to mention a few points briefly.
We need to spend time worshipping the Lord together and studying the Bible in a real and meaningful way.
Time for true Biblical fellowship and for establishing warm and lasting friendships with other believers.

We Need To Spend Time For Other People

This is the time that we dedicate to the Lord's work.
It is the time when we testify, preach, teach or counsel in whatever capacity the Lord has called us and gifted us.
Simply put, this is time when we can do good to others.

I am reading a book at the moment written by John Piper called, "Don't Waste Your Life."
In his preface he say's, "The path of God-exalting joy will cost you your life. Jesus said, "Whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel's will save it."
In other words, it is better to loose your life than to waste it. If you live gladly to make other's glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high and your life will be full."

He goes on to say, "This is not a book about how to avoid a wounded life, but how to avoid a wasted life."

When I was young, I can remember some words that were often quoted and that impacted me no matter how many times I heard them.
Those words are, "Only one life, will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last."
You may well remember those words too.
Allow them just now to sink into the depths of your soul as you read them again.
With these last words I will finish....

When as a child I laughed and wept, Time crept;
When as a youth I drempt and talked, Time walked;
When I became a full grown man, Time ran;
When older still I daily grew, Time flew;
Soon I shall find in travelling on, Time gone;
And face eternity begun, time done.

May God help us to give Him the day's, months and years of our lives and may we hear one day those lovely words,
"Well done thou good and faithful servant."

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